The best cheap haircuts in NYC

Cheap haircuts in the city aren’t always easy to find, but they can be if you go to one of these budget-friendly gems

Broke? Ready to chop your mop and score a cute cut for the changing of the seasons? Haircuts are just like jeans and boots. Whether you pay $20 or $200, you need to find the right fit. And while New York doesn’t lack in top-notch barbershops and hair salons, it would be nice to spend less than a Benjamin on an updated mane. That’s why we’ve mapped out the best hair salons for cheap haircuts from Manhattan to Brooklyn and Queens where you can get a cut or color (that doesn’t suck) for under $50. Now, go get fabulous, Gothamites!

Cheap haircuts in NYC

Even though this spot is a bit out of the way, it’s worth the trip for a decent cut and even more respectable prices. Both the powder-blue space and the trim itself (women $20­–$25, men $15) are frills-free, but the service includes a thorough scrub at the washing station and a simple blow dry, that will showcase your newly snipped style perfectly. Added bonus: Ana takes walk-ins.

Since Arrojo is one of the city’s finest salons, you can trust that the assistants are just as capable of chopping your locks as one of the senior stylists. Call ahead to schedule an appointment with an assistant for a cut ($25), single process color ($30) or highlights ($45) in order for the seniors-in-training to fully master their craft. You won’t regret it.

Just like Arrojo, the hair experts from Aveda offer a similar promotion, where you can book a cut ($18) or color (starting at $35) with a supervised student. Just call to book an appointment (877-283-3229).

It’s worth the 30-minute subway ride from midtown for a bargain wash-and-cut (women $25, men $15) at this no-fuss Astoria spot. The family-owned business has been around since 1999, and while walk-ins are welcome, it’s just as easy to score a same-day appointment by calling ahead. While you shouldn’t expect pampering, you will receive a straightforward, solid haircut. Note that if you don’t want to leave with sopping strands, you’ll have to fork over an extra $10 to $15, depending on hair length, for an accompanying blow-dry.

Going in for a chop at this theater-themed salon (there are nine locations!) does not require an appointment. In fact, don’t even bother booking ahead because the NYC chainlet reserves a special flat rate for walk-ins ($25 for a wash and cut; appointments include a shampoo, cut and style for $35–$50). Blowouts are an additional $10 to $30, but a custom braid or bun is on the house.

From the unassuming storefront to the Saved by the Bell–style paint job inside, it would be easy to overlook Maria Papadelis’s pared-down Greenpoint salon after a cursory glance. But you’d be remiss to disregard it, since you can snag a high-grade haircut for as little as $20 (with wash $25, with blow-dry $33, long hair with blow-dry $40). The environment may be modest, but rest assured you’re in good hands: Papadelis studied hairdressing for three years in her native Poland, and has been manning the scissors for more than two decades.

The stylists at this galactic-inspired space receive high praise for their attention to a customer’s needs. Just to up the ante, the Queens spot also provides iPads and bubbly, plus owner Irina Patrascu’s senior stylists deliver the type of cut ($25, without blowdry; Start at $50 with blowdry) that keeps you coming back for more—no champagne necessary.

Appointments are required at stylist Ming Chiu’s salons, but it’s worth calling ahead for high-quality cuts and relatively low prices (men $30, women $35–$40). There’s an abundance of gossip magazines, oh, and wine, to enjoy during your service, and all chops come with a complimentary wash using Tigi Bed Head products and a scalp massage. A blow-dry finish will run an extra $10–$15.